The first film I used on my holga was a 220. (I grabbed the wrong one by mistake). I took the 24 pics I was able to and when I went to unload it seemed wrong to me. In a dark room I unrolled the whole film off the spool and rolled it up without it. Is that going to effect or even damage my images or even the film?
If I have an 120N Holga with a 35mm back, does that mean I would have to unload the film in complete darkness? But I don't have a darkroom, so how does a film changing bag work? (completely new at this) >__<;;
@micookie8 if you use 35mm film yes you do have to unload in complete darkness. Changing bags work by creating a light tight space where you can unload your film, and in the case of 35mm, wind it back into the canisters. They kinda look like black t-shirts. They have a large hole at the bottom to put stuff in, which then seals. You then put your arms thru the arm holes which seal tightly round your arms and you can unload safely.
@squarefrog thanks for this vid. it helped a lot. i just recently gave my gf a holga gcfn. we were able to load the film in, but we do not know how to unload it and if we do need a dark room.apparently, we dont.hehe! tnx for this vid again!
i have a holga camera that i just started using. how do you know when you have winded the entire finished film to the right? do you just keep winding until it forces you to stop?
@correcttech no - if you are using 120 film it will not force you to stop, but you will see no more numbers go past the red window. Also you should notice that the red window appears darker than before. You'll know what I mean after your first couple of rolls :)
Question, the film has then been wound onto the spool that comes with the camera, what do I do if I want to then put another film straight into the camera? I guess purchasing an extra spool or use the one that the film has been wound from?
@ChiCreativeNetwork Each film you load comes wrapped around a spool. As you shoot your film the film is transferred from the left to the right spool. So you then unload that film and transfer the empty spool to the right and start again. That'll make sense once youve shot a couple of rolls.
@SSsupercharged95 once you've reached the 12th number (with 6x6) or the 16th number (6x4.5) then your film is finished. Just keep winding and you will see the end of the film go past the red window.
@SophomoricHumor Good question. After you shoot frame 12, wind and keep watching the red window. You will eventually see the end of the film wind past. If in doubt just wind for a little bit more, just in case :)
@larpusXD 120mm doesn't exist, simply 120 film is the correct name. I have to add 120 film is not 120mm wide or long, so yeah, 120mm is an incorrect name. Also there's a type of film called 127mm, which should not be confused with 120.
im going to italy for several months and dont know whether i'll be able to get my film processed whilst im there, a used roll will be fine after 5months wont it? thanks :)
To be honest, I've never left film that long. If you can keep the film nice and cool you should be OK. When you get home tell your lab how long it's been, then they can adjust the developing accordingly.
It's worth trying to find a photo lab where you are staying though.
Should a Holga ideally be unloaded in a changing bag, or is it genuinely okay to just do it in a normally lit (i.e. not bright sunlight) room?
I apologize for all the questions, but I just received a Holga for my birthday yesterday, and I'm a little nervous about it.
lol... I'd watched every Holga video on youtube getting ready for receiving mine (I was excited), except somehow I missed this one... which makes me nervous about the endeavor.
yeah anywhere shaded will do. To be honest I've unloaded in the sunshine before and nothing bad has happened. I think I got a few light leaks, but thats not always a bad thing!
Just so I'm clear... when you buy a roll of 120 film... it's going to be wound on a 120 spool that I might eventually use as a take up spool... correct?
It amazes me whenever I see people complaining about the price. $25 dollars?
If $25 dollars is a large enough sum of money to you that you feel necessary to go online and insult people for wasting their money on a toy camera... I think you have larger problems with which to be concerned.
My girlfriend and I are both firmly entrenched below the poverty line, and a $25 dollar birthday present was pleasantly affordable.
@hossrex I totally agree! These days even having a hobby is a luxury. I love taking pictures. It doesn't matter what you take it with. If it's pleasing to you then it's worth whatever you paid for your camera.
@hossrex to be honest I think 25 quid for a toy camera is quite expensive...still affordable tho but that does not mean it is a FAIR price when they used to be cheaper before they got too commercial. Look at the lomo lubitel for instance, the old lubitel 2 is way better than the 166. they are still nice wee cameras
To each their own, but I think a lot of people forget there are actual "precision" mechanics... even in a toy camera. A shutter that's misaligned to be off by a fraction of a second is literally useless.
though with my first shoot i kept forgetting to wind the next frame on, but in the end, because i was shooting indoors the double exposures looked really great.
Do you have to buy any new spools if you take your time to develop that film? I mean... you take it out with the spool. What if you need to shoot again?
Hello Guys! Need Some Help Here.. Hmm. If Im Done With My Film, I Unload It Then Where Should I Keep It? In A Dark Place Or In A Fridge For Me To Develop It The Nxt Day..?
If you are using 35mm, you know its finished when it wont wind any more. If you use 120, you actually see the end of the film go past when you wind. Usually after the 12th picture.
I'm afraid not. Even if you could it wouldn't be an advantage as you'd still only have 1 spool!
But you only need the take up spool, the other spool that your film is wrapped around stays on. So in essence you have 2 spools inside your camera - one empty one on the right, one on the left surrounded by film. That's when your LOADING the camera. When you UNLOAD then its the other way round.
hey hey! great vid. the only thing im not 100% on is whether or not this has to be done in darkness. one of your replies says "Yes it must be done in the dark" and another says "120 film can be unloaded in daylight" im using the diana f+ but i guess it doesnt make much of a difference
I'm more confident on using it now than before cause of past experiences on my parents' 35mm cam =)) thanks again, you're videos are really helpful and the background music is kinda mesmerizing :))
I like holgas, as you get larger negatives. I haven't used a Diana+. If you are going to get one though, get one off eBay not lomography, as they are much cheaper.
Life saver! This is my first roll but it took me so long to expose it I forgot what the inside of the camera (and ergo how the film was supposed to be unloaded looked like. MANY THANKS!
Yes that's right - each roll comes wound round a spool. As you shoot your film, the film passes from one spool to the other, and so you always have 1 full and 1 empty spool!
oh Gosh, I should watch this before.. I went to the dark room and roll it back once again, I lick it but didn't stick, so I tape it by myself... the photoshop guy said, omg, you roll it in the wrong side! Well, what a begginer storie.. more 30 min to go to see if I got some picture there, haha
thank you! I was so confused by the instructions that came with it...I've never had a camera that you don't wind the film back into the original spool...anyway - thanks!
i have a question, if i bring this type of film say in walmart... are they gonna be able to develop it? if not, where can i bring the film and have it developed?
I'm not sure. I don't live in the US so I can't really help. My best advice would be to ask them if they can develop 120 film. Otherwise phone round some photo labs in your phone directory. If that all fails try and find a pro camera shop and ask them in there.
Great video... and website, too. When unloading do you fold and tuck in the small flap at the very end of the roll? When I do it doesn't seem as tightly sealed?!
Does all 120 film eg efke have the tab you lick to hold the film in after unloading ? Thanks
TheSailor450 4 days ago
The first film I used on my holga was a 220. (I grabbed the wrong one by mistake). I took the 24 pics I was able to and when I went to unload it seemed wrong to me. In a dark room I unrolled the whole film off the spool and rolled it up without it. Is that going to effect or even damage my images or even the film?
Dominarican519 6 months ago
If I have an 120N Holga with a 35mm back, does that mean I would have to unload the film in complete darkness? But I don't have a darkroom, so how does a film changing bag work? (completely new at this) >__<;;
micookie8 7 months ago
@micookie8 if you use 35mm film yes you do have to unload in complete darkness. Changing bags work by creating a light tight space where you can unload your film, and in the case of 35mm, wind it back into the canisters. They kinda look like black t-shirts. They have a large hole at the bottom to put stuff in, which then seals. You then put your arms thru the arm holes which seal tightly round your arms and you can unload safely.
squarefrog 7 months ago
@squarefrog thanks for this vid. it helped a lot. i just recently gave my gf a holga gcfn. we were able to load the film in, but we do not know how to unload it and if we do need a dark room.apparently, we dont.hehe! tnx for this vid again!
monterrawr 4 months ago
i have a holga camera that i just started using. how do you know when you have winded the entire finished film to the right? do you just keep winding until it forces you to stop?
correcttech 8 months ago
@correcttech no - if you are using 120 film it will not force you to stop, but you will see no more numbers go past the red window. Also you should notice that the red window appears darker than before. You'll know what I mean after your first couple of rolls :)
squarefrog 8 months ago
Question, the film has then been wound onto the spool that comes with the camera, what do I do if I want to then put another film straight into the camera? I guess purchasing an extra spool or use the one that the film has been wound from?
ChiCreativeNetwork 1 year ago
@ChiCreativeNetwork Each film you load comes wrapped around a spool. As you shoot your film the film is transferred from the left to the right spool. So you then unload that film and transfer the empty spool to the right and start again. That'll make sense once youve shot a couple of rolls.
squarefrog 1 year ago
how do you know when all of your film is finished and you can't take anymore pics? I'm confused about that...
SSsupercharged95 1 year ago
@SSsupercharged95 once you've reached the 12th number (with 6x6) or the 16th number (6x4.5) then your film is finished. Just keep winding and you will see the end of the film go past the red window.
squarefrog 1 year ago
how do you know when you have rolled it in all of the way?
SophomoricHumor 1 year ago
@SophomoricHumor Good question. After you shoot frame 12, wind and keep watching the red window. You will eventually see the end of the film wind past. If in doubt just wind for a little bit more, just in case :)
squarefrog 1 year ago
@squarefrog thanks! one more question: is there a special type of film you need that will fit in holgas?
SophomoricHumor 1 year ago
@SophomoricHumor its 120 film (just 120. not 120mm) its a standard medium format film.
squarefrog 1 year ago
@squarefrog yaaaaay. im bidding on a holga on ebay...SO excited.
SophomoricHumor 1 year ago
@squarefrog whats the difference between 120 and 120mm?
larpusXD 1 year ago
@larpusXD 120mm doesn't exist, simply 120 film is the correct name. I have to add 120 film is not 120mm wide or long, so yeah, 120mm is an incorrect name. Also there's a type of film called 127mm, which should not be confused with 120.
hammeringz 9 months ago
But wait if you do that doesnt it ruin your film? Im used to the thirty five that rolls back into its container.
nugent923 2 years ago
paper covers it
chilidog1001 1 year ago
cool, thanks alot for the advice :)
azerbaijani 2 years ago
im going to italy for several months and dont know whether i'll be able to get my film processed whilst im there, a used roll will be fine after 5months wont it? thanks :)
azerbaijani 2 years ago
To be honest, I've never left film that long. If you can keep the film nice and cool you should be OK. When you get home tell your lab how long it's been, then they can adjust the developing accordingly.
It's worth trying to find a photo lab where you are staying though.
squarefrog 2 years ago
nice vid works
dannykartel 2 years ago
could i get the 120 film developed at CVS? wait do you know what that is?
zzzzaah 2 years ago
@zzzzaah no, some cvs's done even do 35mm anymore
ladyofTHEUSED 2 years ago
so... basically youre unloading/twisting the same way you turn the knob when you want to take another photo?
wtf.
so confusing.
Ahkany 2 years ago
wow, no wonder there are so many light leaks!! thanks for the helpyful video
robinheil 2 years ago
Should a Holga ideally be unloaded in a changing bag, or is it genuinely okay to just do it in a normally lit (i.e. not bright sunlight) room?
I apologize for all the questions, but I just received a Holga for my birthday yesterday, and I'm a little nervous about it.
lol... I'd watched every Holga video on youtube getting ready for receiving mine (I was excited), except somehow I missed this one... which makes me nervous about the endeavor.
Thanks for the polite replies,
CHEERS!
hossrex 2 years ago
yeah anywhere shaded will do. To be honest I've unloaded in the sunshine before and nothing bad has happened. I think I got a few light leaks, but thats not always a bad thing!
squarefrog 2 years ago
Just so I'm clear... when you buy a roll of 120 film... it's going to be wound on a 120 spool that I might eventually use as a take up spool... correct?
hossrex 2 years ago
Absolutely spot on. I know its a bit strange, but once you run your first roll through, you'll understand.
squarefrog 2 years ago
@hossrex oh yeah I literally just loaded mine for the 1st time and didn't realise that will be my spool. thanks!
naomislittleworld 1 year ago
@naomislittleworld
They're neat little cameras, eh?
It amazes me whenever I see people complaining about the price. $25 dollars?
If $25 dollars is a large enough sum of money to you that you feel necessary to go online and insult people for wasting their money on a toy camera... I think you have larger problems with which to be concerned.
My girlfriend and I are both firmly entrenched below the poverty line, and a $25 dollar birthday present was pleasantly affordable.
hossrex 1 year ago
@hossrex I totally agree! These days even having a hobby is a luxury. I love taking pictures. It doesn't matter what you take it with. If it's pleasing to you then it's worth whatever you paid for your camera.
sthomas68 1 year ago
@hossrex to be honest I think 25 quid for a toy camera is quite expensive...still affordable tho but that does not mean it is a FAIR price when they used to be cheaper before they got too commercial. Look at the lomo lubitel for instance, the old lubitel 2 is way better than the 166. they are still nice wee cameras
vimo 1 year ago
@vimo
To each their own, but I think a lot of people forget there are actual "precision" mechanics... even in a toy camera. A shutter that's misaligned to be off by a fraction of a second is literally useless.
hossrex 1 year ago
where can i keep the film while waiting to develop?
jayzon04 2 years ago
Somewhere cool and dark. A cupboard maybe? Try not to leave it too long before getting it developed.
squarefrog 2 years ago
so....how to unload 35mm film from a holga?
sarkastik1990 2 years ago
See my 35mm video :)
squarefrog 2 years ago
thanks, your a life saver.
though with my first shoot i kept forgetting to wind the next frame on, but in the end, because i was shooting indoors the double exposures looked really great.
cant wait for night time long exposures.
rorrt 2 years ago
Do you have to buy any new spools if you take your time to develop that film? I mean... you take it out with the spool. What if you need to shoot again?
lassersister 2 years ago
Hello Guys! Need Some Help Here.. Hmm. If Im Done With My Film, I Unload It Then Where Should I Keep It? In A Dark Place Or In A Fridge For Me To Develop It The Nxt Day..?
shinieroygunns 2 years ago
Nice and easy, thank you. Shame that my camera's flash has decided to only go when it feels like now.
reubenmain 2 years ago
love your video - one comment: would like more info on what film stock to use. Thanks!
DavidJonasFilms 2 years ago
have a look at my website for that information
squarefrog 2 years ago
You lick it? That's pretty sweet!
knarleysurfer54 2 years ago
Not always, sometimes its a self adhesive strip... its often a shock when you lick that :)
squarefrog 2 years ago
how do you unload a 35mm film from a 120 holga?
zizzymichi 2 years ago
watch my 35mm video
squarefrog 2 years ago
How do you know if ur film is finished?
& if i'm using a 35mm film must it be taken out in the dark. How about 120 film?
JAStoxic 3 years ago
If you are using 35mm, you know its finished when it wont wind any more. If you use 120, you actually see the end of the film go past when you wind. Usually after the 12th picture.
120 film can be unloaded in the light.
squarefrog 3 years ago
But it must be loaded in the dark/subdued light like the film warning says or is that just being paranoid?
Federico818 2 years ago
Can I get the film off the spool some how without ruining it? I don't have more than 1 spool
enoduolc 3 years ago
I'm afraid not. Even if you could it wouldn't be an advantage as you'd still only have 1 spool!
But you only need the take up spool, the other spool that your film is wrapped around stays on. So in essence you have 2 spools inside your camera - one empty one on the right, one on the left surrounded by film. That's when your LOADING the camera. When you UNLOAD then its the other way round.
squarefrog 3 years ago
Well, when this film is used up can I use the spool that came with the film as the loading spool?
Or do I have to get the film developed to get my spool back to take more pictures?
enoduolc 3 years ago
Yep - the spool that starts off inside the film, eventually becomes empty, and becomes your new take up spool.
It may be a bit confusing at first, but once you've shot your first film it should become clear.
squarefrog 3 years ago
Where can i go to get my holga film developed?
sapporo84 3 years ago
Cool thanks a bunch
enoduolc 3 years ago
i shot my first roll of Holga photos yesterday and have been wary of opening up the camera to unload the film. thanks for alleviating that fear. :)
kimcogo 3 years ago
If you're taking the film to be developed in a lab, do you still have to worry about taking the film out in the dark?
johnnythewonderfly 3 years ago
Yes you do, unless the lab is taking the film out for you.
squarefrog 3 years ago
cheers for that mate!!
TomDDL 3 years ago
No worries. Have fun!
squarefrog 3 years ago
hey hey! great vid. the only thing im not 100% on is whether or not this has to be done in darkness. one of your replies says "Yes it must be done in the dark" and another says "120 film can be unloaded in daylight" im using the diana f+ but i guess it doesnt make much of a difference
TomDDL 3 years ago
As I mention just below.
35MM MUST BE UNLOADED IN COMPLETE DARKNESS.
120 ROLL CAN BE UNLOADED IN DAYLIGHT.
squarefrog 3 years ago
hmm. two comments above you say that the film must be unloaded in darkness, then the next post you say it diesnt need to be taken out in darness?
Just got my first Holga a few hours ago, your websites is really helpfull!
jerkaswede 3 years ago
35mm MUST be unloaded in complete darkness.
120 film can be unloaded in daylight.
squarefrog 3 years ago
hey does this need to be done in complete darkness like this 35mm?
arias2141 3 years ago
No - 120 film has a protective paper back and can be unloaded in daylight without ruining your film.
squarefrog 3 years ago
Thanks for the quick reply squarefrog! :D
I'm more confident on using it now than before cause of past experiences on my parents' 35mm cam =)) thanks again, you're videos are really helpful and the background music is kinda mesmerizing :))
arias2141 3 years ago
Hello thanks for the video!
Some stuff I'm sure of:
I thought the film must be unloaded in the dark?
Does this apply to the Holga 135 as well?
I'm a first time Holga user, sorry for the noob-ish questions.
Thank you!
kenji46 3 years ago
Yes it must be done in the dark. I only recorded it in the light so you could see what I was doing :)
I think you can rewind film in the Holga 135 so you just need to do that before opening the back.
squarefrog 3 years ago
fuck.... i should have seen this video before unload.... thanks, now i know.
thomasrehling 3 years ago
wow! that's easy ..
llredll 3 years ago
which lomo camera would u recommend..a diana+ or a holga..i just wanted to do lomography as a hobby
justinartcore 3 years ago
I like holgas, as you get larger negatives. I haven't used a Diana+. If you are going to get one though, get one off eBay not lomography, as they are much cheaper.
squarefrog 3 years ago
Well that was a lot less painful then i thought it would be, thanks for the video.
ericmuttick 3 years ago
5 stars just for that lick!! lol. Thanks for posting this. We went over how to load in class, but never how to unload.
FairyFemme 3 years ago
all your videos are so helpful, thanks so much.
status1hitch 3 years ago
OMG!
i have been going into the dark and and windng it back onto the spool that the film comes on and obviously not winding it all the way.
i's sooo easy now...
i wish i had watched this before proceeding to destroy the film i shot in Tokyo. :'(
Matayotron 4 years ago
Life saver! This is my first roll but it took me so long to expose it I forgot what the inside of the camera (and ergo how the film was supposed to be unloaded looked like. MANY THANKS!
Clairebell 4 years ago
Yes that's right - each roll comes wound round a spool. As you shoot your film, the film passes from one spool to the other, and so you always have 1 full and 1 empty spool!
squarefrog 4 years ago
oh Gosh, I should watch this before.. I went to the dark room and roll it back once again, I lick it but didn't stick, so I tape it by myself... the photoshop guy said, omg, you roll it in the wrong side! Well, what a begginer storie.. more 30 min to go to see if I got some picture there, haha
BICHAPOWER 4 years ago
where can you get medium format developed? for now im just using 35mm in my holga.
mikedub1219 4 years ago
Ask around your local developers, if that fails, ask in your local pro photography shop.
squarefrog 4 years ago
thank you! I was so confused by the instructions that came with it...I've never had a camera that you don't wind the film back into the original spool...anyway - thanks!
crabbyfruit 4 years ago
Yeah not getting the spool back confuses quite a few people. But it all makes sense after your first roll :)
squarefrog 4 years ago
how will i get my spool back?
arcticxheather 4 years ago
You don't need to - there will be a new empty spool in the left hand chamber of the Holga.
squarefrog 4 years ago
That's a good question. They will put another one in there or the same one when they are done with it?
iheartmomo 4 years ago
The roll that you put in becomes your spare spool. It makes a lot more sense once you've rolled one through!
squarefrog 4 years ago
I think I see--
you mean that each roll of 120 film comes with a spool within it, or do you mean that it acts as a spare spool?
pianomaps 4 years ago
i have a question, if i bring this type of film say in walmart... are they gonna be able to develop it? if not, where can i bring the film and have it developed?
watdhekk 4 years ago
I'm not sure. I don't live in the US so I can't really help. My best advice would be to ask them if they can develop 120 film. Otherwise phone round some photo labs in your phone directory. If that all fails try and find a pro camera shop and ask them in there.
squarefrog 4 years ago
oh, okay... thanks!
watdhekk 4 years ago
I'm pretty sure they can develop it. 120 film is pretty standard.
hoovernj 4 years ago
1. I serious doubt Wal-Mart developed medium format film.
2. I wouldn't trust them with my film is they did.
It gives me the willies just thinking about it.
randy25rhoads 4 years ago
Great video... and website, too. When unloading do you fold and tuck in the small flap at the very end of the roll? When I do it doesn't seem as tightly sealed?!
JayKing131 4 years ago
Yes i do, that just makes it easier for the person processing the film to unravel it when they come to process your film.
squarefrog 4 years ago